Agriculture practised by the Ancient People of New Zealand.

In Chapter II I made the statement that the aborigines of this land were ignorant of the art of agriculture. It is a fact, however, that the pre-Maori people cultivated the " hue" gourd which was utilised as an article of food and also for water vessels, &c.

Maui the Discoverer of Aotearoa.

The Ngati-Awa tribe state that Maui was the first ancestor to visit Aotearoa (New Zealand) and that he at once returned to Hawaiki to take " moawe" of Aotearoa to that place. Now the word " maawe" has seveial meanings, one of which is as follows:—When a battle is won, a piece [unclear: of] clothing or hair of a dead [unclear: ene] taken to the priest of the [unclear: vic] tribe who proceeds to "Karakia [unclear: a] it, in order to render the [unclear: e] powerless—kia kore e toa article is called a "maawe."

Te Marangarahga.

The following is a genea[unclear: logy] this ancient people:—Toi [unclear: kai] married Mokotea and had Te [unclear: a] ngaranga and Taunga and [unclear: Ka] Panenehu. Marangaranga [unclear: ha] Uira-i-waho, who had Tu-[unclear: rere] had Mai-ki-te-kura, who [unclear: ba] Eupe-tu, who had Hatonga, had Mahu-nuku, who had [unclear: Maba] page 45 who had Mahu-tapoa-nui, who had [unclear: Te]Rangi-taupiri, who had Tamaka, [unclear: who] had TeAo-whakahaha, who had [unclear: rangi], who had Tihori, who mar-[unclear: id]Kopura-kai-whiti and had Pau [unclear: puku], who had [unclear: Hinertara,] who had [unclear: ma]-ka-ura, who had TeWherutu, [unclear: who] had Tu-whakarau, who had TeWhins, who bad TeRangi-pakakina, [unclear: be] had Kurukuru. (Four more [unclear: ations] to present time.)

Te Aratawhao.

(Another version.)

Taukata remained in this land but [unclear: ake]returned to Hawaiki on board [unclear: the]Aratawhao, as a guide to that far [unclear: d]These two were brothers, their [unclear: rs] were Tuturi-whati and Kanioro. [unclear: The] latter married Pourangahuaof Whangaparaoa. She was the 'ariki' [unclear: of] the 'pounamu.'

Tamakihikurangi did not sail on[unclear: the]Aratawhao. That was long before [unclear: this] time. Awa-nui-a-rangi, son of [unclear: s,]was commander of that ancient [unclear: sel]She and her people and Hoake[unclear: mained]at Hawaiki. Six generations [unclear: d]and died at Hawaiki. In the [unclear: e] of Toroa, sixth in descent from [unclear: wa]-nui a-rangi, the Mataatua[unclear: came]this land, bringing among others, [unclear: he] descendants of Toi of old. Back the home of their fathers they came [unclear: d] brought with them the 'kumara.' [unclear: That]was their treasure, the kumara, [unclear: ed]carefully were the precious [unclear: ed] tubers guarded during the long [unclear: yage]. And when the seed wore [unclear: nted] the skull of Tnukata was car-[unclear: ed] from its re ting place in the cave a the dead and placed on the paenga[unclear: the] kumara plantation. And a seed [unclear: mara] was thrust into each of the [unclear: e] sockets of Taukata's skull. This This [unclear: onyn]wae to preserve the seed—whakahuahuite kumara," and prevent the 'mariri' of the[unclear: ara]from returning to Hawaiki the kumara crop was gathered [unclear: and] stored in the 'rua' then a des-[unclear: ant] of Taukata was slain as a 'patunga tapu' or seacred offering. The blood of the victim was sprinkled on the doorposts of the storehouse in which the kumara were placed. This custom concerning the skull was continued until the adoption of Christianity.

Awanui-a-rangi had Awaroa, who had Awa-tuma-ki-te-rangi, who had Pari-nui-te-ra, who had Ira-kewa, who had Awa-morehurehu, who had Toroa. The first six all died in Hawaiki. Toroa was captain and priest of Mataatua. And from Awa-[unclear: nuba]rangi are descended the Ngati-Awa tribe of the Bay of Plenty.

Tua of Tahiti.

I have only met with this name once in the ancient songs. It occurs in the "Tua o Matatua," which 'karakia' was repeated while the Mataatua or Tuamatua canoe was being launched at Tahiti. It was also repeated over the Arawa at Matata by Toroa.

Te Tau o Mataatua.

"Kapuahokaiairunga o Tahiti nui a To Tua

Ka tatau ana ki runga o Kapu-to-Puke iAotea____[rangi

Ko Toi te tangata o te motu, &c."

Paea on Paia.

This name occurs in a Maori Lament published in the Journal of the Polynesian Society some time back. 'NauaihomaitePaea-o-Tawhiti&c.'

In a communication received from Miss TeUira Henry of Honolulu, a lady who is thorougly conversant with the ancient history and legendary lore of Tahiti, I have received confirmation of several proper names given me by the Ngati-Awa.

Te Oropoa.—This is the name of a largo department of Tahiti.

Ta Tana-i-Ahurai.—Is the adjoining district to To Oropoa.

Paea.—Is a district in Te Oropoa.

Tua.—Is the name of a very ancient high chieftain family of Tahiti.

Finis.